Sandwich boards

To use a sandwich board on a public footpath you must first get a sandwich board licence.

Whether we grant a licence depends on whether it is safe and appropriate to have a sandwich board at that location.

Boards that do not have a displayed licence sticker or that aren’t being used in accordance with the licence conditions risk being removed by Council.

How to apply

To apply for a licence, complete the online application form:

Sandwich board application form

If your licence is approved, you should position the board so it doesn't get in the way of pedestrians, block people entering and exiting their vehicle, or clutter the footpath.

If you're not sure where to put your board, contact us for help – email street.activities@wcc.govt.nz.

Renewals

All sandwich board licences are issued for 1 year (1 July to 30 June). We will send you a reminder before your licence expires.

To update changes to your current licence (contact details or change of location or board), contact the Street Activities Officer by emailing street.activities@wcc.govt.nz.

Fees

Rules and compliance

Maximum size: height 900mm, width 600mm

If a sandwich board is unlicensed or used non-compliantly, it will be ticketed with a notice sticker by one of the Council’s officers, with the expectation that action be taken.

If no action is taken to remedy the non-compliance, the sandwich board may be seized by the Council, and a fee could apply to retrieve it.

We expect sandwich board owners to effectively self-manage their board and meet the conditions outlined below.

Sandwich board conditions

• The Council reserves the right to select the exact location where the board may be placed, with a view to prioritise pedestrian safety and convenience.
• Default location is kerbside (away from the building, on the other side of the footpath). This is so pedestrians can travel unobstructed under veranda cover in poor weather conditions.
• Licence holders are responsible for ensuring the board remains in the designated location, including if it is moved by other forces such as pedestrians or wind.
• The board must be weighted to ensure stability, and any folding boards must be prevented (for example, by use of a metal latch) from opening or closing in windy conditions.
• In heavy winds, sandwich boards should be brought indoors to mitigate safety hazard for pedestrians.
• Sandwich boards must be brought onto private property outside of business hours. They may not be left overnight on the footpath.
• If the board is attached to an object or fixture on the road corridor, prior approval must be obtained from the owner of that asset.

Licence conditions

• For each licence, only one (1) board may be placed on public land at any given time. The Council generally will not approve multiple boards for one business.
• Licence stickers must be attached to the sandwich board and visible at all times.
• Licence stickers and licences are non-transferable, and application processing fees are non-refundable.
• The Council reserves the right to cancel an existing licence or decline a licence application (for example, if there is no suitable location on public footpath for a board to be placed). If the Council cancels a paid licence, a credit will be issued to the licence holder for the remaining unused days.